GRAND MARAIS, MINNESOTA

September 3, 2007

As Harley Hanson would say, “This was a two otter day”. I woke up early this morning to take in the sunrise at the Grand Marais harbor. It was a great sunrise. There were just enough clouds on the horizon to reflect the beautiful reds and oranges of the early morning sun. Many fishermen were heading out onto the big lake to enjoy a day of fishing. When I finished photographing the sunrise I started walking back and found two very playful otter pups in the pool of water just west of the break wall.

The otters were busy fishing themselves. They had no trouble finding breakfast in the cool clear waters of Lake Superior. It was so much fun watching them swim underwater as they pursued their prey. At first, they wouldn’t let me get very close. I left my tripod and camera bag on the bank and worked my way along the shore trying to get closer. The otters worked their way past me and over to my tripod. I was on one side of the pool and the otters were fishing about three feet from my tripod and camera bag on the other side. Why didn’t I just stay put? I worked my way back and they did let me get close to them.

At one point they swam right below me so I got the attached shot where the one pup is on the surface and the other is following underwater. If any of you get a chance to visit Grand Marais, don’t miss the daily show put on by the family of otters. You too can have a “two otter day”.